1961
Off to Mexico City
A newlywed couple shows up from El Tule, Oaxaca, with barely any money and a ton of drive. A 5-peso lottery ticket changes everything and lets them buy the shop at Soledad 42, which is still the heart of Aquí es Oaxaca.
Oaxacan food in downtown CDMX
A corner of Oaxaca
Tlayudas, mole negro, big Oaxacan breakfasts and hot chocolate with pan de yema. We’re upstairs at Soledad 42, just a few blocks from the Zócalo.
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Oaxacan food
Tradition
Old-school Oaxacan cooking, done right
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Breakfast to dessert
The menu
Dishes from MX$20
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Soledad 42, upstairs
Find us
Right above the Aquí es Oaxaca store
First time here?
Not sure what to order?
Tell us what you’re craving and we’ll point you to the good stuff.
Stick around a while
Hot chocolate with pan de yema
Oaxacan hot chocolate made with water or milk, with a piece of pan de yema (soft egg-yolk bread) for dunking. We’ve also got café de olla, tejate, and horchata with prickly pear or chilacayota.
See drinks and dessertsOur story
It all started with a family
Back in 1961, a newlywed couple moved from El Tule, Oaxaca, to Mexico City with barely any money and a ton of drive. A 5-peso lottery ticket helped them buy the shop at Soledad 42.
Today, Casa Nela is right upstairs from that same store. It’s the family’s kitchen, with the same old recipes and the stuff we still bring in from Oaxaca.
1961The family lands
2017Casa Nela opens
60+Years of tradition
From El Tule to downtown CDMX
Our story, year by year
1960–1970
Autotransportes El Tule gets rolling
Don Eusebio heads to Oaxaca every week to stock up, and Autotransportes Oaxaqueños El Tule is born. It ends up growing to 18 trucks and 2 semis.
1981
Elí joins the family
Elí is born. He grows up between the store’s shelves, goes on to study cooking, and sets the stage for the family’s restaurants.
1990
The family keeps it going
Don Eusebio passes away. Doña Manuela keeps things running with her daughters, and the family hangs on to the shop and the floor upstairs.
2000s
A first spot in Santa María la Ribera
Elí rents a tiny shop in Santa María la Ribera, selling Oaxacan goods and starting to cook for customers.
2012
Oaxacaquí opens
Oaxacaquí, the family’s first restaurant, opens its doors in Santa María la Ribera.
2017
This is where Casa Nela starts
Casa Nela opens
The family heads upstairs at Soledad 42, right above the store where it all started, and opens Casa Nela in the Centro Histórico.
Present
Here for the long haul
Casa Nela keeps the family tradition alive: homestyle Oaxacan cooking, a few blocks from the Zócalo.
Come find us downtown
A few blocks from the Zócalo. Swing by for breakfast, lunch or a hot chocolate with pan de yema.
Heads up: we’re upstairs at Soledad 42, one floor above the Aquí es Oaxaca store. Keep an eye out for the “Sube al primer piso” sign (it means “come on up”).
- Soledad 42, upstairs (2nd floor), Centro Histórico, Mexico City
- Check our hours on Google Maps
- @casanela.mx
Grupo aquí es Oaxaca
More from the family
Grab a bit of Oaxaca to take home from the store downstairs, or check out our other restaurant.
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Store · Since 1961
Aquí es Oaxaca
Soledad 42, ground floor
Mole, chocolate, quesillo, tasajo, pan de yema and mezcal to take home. Order online and grab it on your way out.
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Restaurant · Since 2012
Oaxacaquí
Santa María la Ribera, CDMX
The original: the family’s first restaurant.
Life at Casa Nela
Food, long lunches and what’s cooking in the kitchen. Tap a video to watch it on Instagram.
@casanela.mxOaxacan food · Centro Histórico
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